Langston Hughes was the first African-American author to earn his living solely as a writer, ultimately producing more than 60 literary works that earned him critical acclaim as well as popularity. One of Hughes' most famous poems is entitled simply "Harlem." The title suggests that the poem represents the collective experience of African-Americans. The poem is constructed of a series of disturbing metaphorical "answers" to the question, what happens to a dream deferred? The possible outcomes for deferred dreams are incredible images which invoke the senses, particularly taste, smell and touch.

A Dried Raisin

The poem suggests that a dream put on hold might "dry up like a raisin in the sun." A dried, stiff raisin is the sensory opposite of how it began its life -- as a juicy, thirst-quenching green or rosy grape. This use of figurative language is a simile, a type of figurative language that uses "like" or "as" to compare unlike things. The raisin simile is a brilliant and compelling one, because everyone can relate to it. It's an image that helps readers appreciate how hard and difficult it is to swallow the reality of dreams permanently postponed.

A Festering Sore

The poem also includes a more disturbing visual. The reader is asked, "does it fester like a sore - and then run?" A running or festering sore is, at best, an unpleasant condition that requires medical attention. This strong image evokes the sense that putting off a dream of education, a nice home or a good job risks creating psychological difficulties that fester like physical sores. The longer the dreamer waits for gratification, the greater the danger of infection to the psyche.

Stinky Meat or Syrupy Sweet?

The poem also evokes the reader's sense of smell. The speaker asks if the deferred dreams "stink like rotten meat" or in contrast, "crust and sugar over - like a syrupy sweet?" Readers respond to the image presented, which are particularly strong due to their evocation of scent. The opposite smell and taste imagery conveys succinctly a common experience of the scent of rot versus the joy of something sweetly scented. Readers can equate this pair of similes with the human condition, and envision people becoming either sour and aggressive or too sweet and passive.

A Heavy Load or an Explosion?

The poem asks if a postponed dream sags like a heavy load. All readers can empathize with the sensation of trying to carry too many heavy things at once; stumbling becomes inevitable. A heavy psychological or emotional load of dreams about which readers feels hopeless can become unbearable. The poem wraps with the striking question, "Or does it explode?," which packs quite a punch. Explosions cause chaos, harm and hurt. The promise of the American Dream withheld over generations, the poem suggests, may become explosive.

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About the Author

Susie Zappia teaches humanities and research and writing courses online for several colleges. Her research interests include counterculture literature of the 1960 and instructional design for online courses and she enjoys writing about literature, art and instructional design. She holds a Master of Arts in humanities from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a Master of Science in instructional design from Capella University.